Work is nearing completion in Sparks on a brand new South Seas type restaurant named Trader Dick's at the
site of the old Sparks Nugget. Dick Graves, owner of the unique establishment, is also owner-operator of
the new Nugget directly across the street. An estimated $100,000 is being spent to transform the building
into a South Seas restaurant with authentic artifacts from the South Pacific as decorations. The new
restaurant will feature three dining areas, one of them an oriental buffet; two cocktail areas and a gaming
area. Reno Architect Frank Green planned the remodeling while Decorator Eli Hedley is supervising the
decoration. Hedley is a former beachcomber who is well known nationally for his work in the decoration
field.
Tools, cloth, stone carvings and many paintings depicting life on the Pacific islands have gone into the
interior decoration of Trader Dick's. Particularly striking is a wood carving by Frank Polk, local artist,
and mosaics by Hedley's daughter. An authentic Chinese cook oven is also a unique item that has been
installed.
Scenes include a Hawaiian fishing party in which all hands take part. This may be found in the Hookeylan or
Fishing room of Trader Dick's; one of many unusual settings.
The opening of Trader Dick's will bring to five the number of separate restaurants operated by Mr. Graves
in his two rail city locations. Four (steak house, chicken house, prime rib house and coffee shop) are now
in operation at the new Nugget across B St.
Varied scenes from the new restaurant, which will rank in appearance with the finest in the nation, and
will have unexcelled cuisine, are shown on this page.
Top left is the symbol of the new South Seas restaurant, a Tiki, or Easter Island god carved from feather
stone. At lower left is another of the many Tikis in the restaurant. This one will decorate the east wall
of the Golden Dragon room at Trader Dick's. The carving is 10 feet high. The wall coverings are Fijian Tapa
and Abaca cloth. Flanking the Tiki are other Easter Island carvings. The top right picture shows Frank
Polk, well-known local wood artist, and his large mural carving for the Bar of the Golden Dragon. Gold leaf
will be applied when the carving is finished. Seven weeks of work have gone into this bit of art. Center
right photo is a panel from the Hut room, one of three dining rooms at Trader Dick's, featuring a sailing
ship and more Tapa cloth for wall coverings. The bottom photo is the architects rendering of the front of
the new restaurant.

Check out this cool oversized postcard I just got from the Nugget Casino and Trader Dick's restaurant in Sparks, Nevada. Judging by the look of the cars, this is an early card that was produced shortly after the facilities first opened in the late 1950s.

This postcard includes a view of a Tiki sign on the outside of Trader Dick's that does not show up on the two other picture postcards that are available from Trader Dick's.

I was just at Trader Dick's last November and a word of advice for those thinking about making a trip: Avoid the late-night weekends, especially Saturday, if you are going to sit at the bar. Awful DJ playing awful music. Crowded dance floor (not that it matters). For dinner you should be fine but bar seating is best during the week. I went during the week and once during the weekend and was able to enjoy it much more during the week. That being said, I still had a fine time during the weekend as it was my first time there so my excitement carried me through the rough patches. Definitely worth a visit.

I am not really sure WHEN it was moved, have to dig up that info and I don't have my stuff with me. I just wanted to point out that the place the above members visited is not the same than in your postcard(s) and in the article pappy posted. The newer version in the casino is still cool, though.

That must be the original menu cover. Does it have Dick Graves' "proud plagiarism" proclamation that I quote in the BOT, page 153, in it?:
"....I've swiped menus, bribed bartenders and copied every good thing I could find..."

It is round, clear glass and says "Trader Dick's Chinese Restaurant" on one side, "Nugget Casino-Motor Lodge, Sparks, Nevada" on the other and also "6 Award Winning Restaurants" all in red.

I am not sure of the age but looks quite old like maybe 60's or early 70's. I thought it may be older than that as it does say Chinese Restaurant on it but I am not sure. None of the matchbooks say this specifically on it.

This Ashtray mentions "6 Restaurants". The early matchbook I have mentions that the Nugget has "4 other fine restaurants" but across the street from Trader Dicks. Later books I have mention "8 Restaurants". I thought this may be a way of trying to date the matchbooks and other items from here.